Photographer's Note

The 'bobbies' (signalmen) and gate-keepers at the level crossings first used hand signals, hand-held flags and hand-held lanterns to signal to the train crew. On the railway a white flag or light meant all-clear, red meant danger or stop and green originally meant caution. With the increasing use of gas and electric white lights the significance of green changed to all clear as of about 1893. As with most changes this took several years to apply, the GWR adopted green for all-clear in 1895 but green was still occasionally associated with a cautionary warning until the 1960's. From about the time of the First World War a white light was sometimes used as a danger indication on small track-side signals.

This signalman is at the Great Central Railway.Loughborough.

Thank to –www.myweb.tiscali.co.uk
This is a site for model train makers but has lots of information on how things were.

Hello Marion,
a very well composed picture from an excellent point of view. I love the contrast between the bright and dull colours. The diagonal lines, the open door at exactly that spot and the posture of the "bobby" are lovely elements too. There's stillness and intensity, a very interesting and effective mixture, well captured!
All the best, have a good week,
Ourania